Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Teach kids the "ABCs" of H1N1 flu
Publish story by Holly
POSTED: 09:43 a.m. EDT, Sep 09, 2009
AKRON, Ohio (Sept. 8, 2009) ? Children are especially vulnerable to H1N1 (swine) flu. So as the kids settle back into their classrooms, parents should take a few minutes to educate them in the ?ABCs? of H1N1 flu.
?Children are one of the highest risk groups for complications from H1N1 flu because their immune systems do not have experience with it,? said Blaise Congeni, MD, director of Infectious Disease at Akron Children?s Hospital. ?Children under the age of 5, and especially those under 6 months of age, are especially vulnerable to this novel flu strain. The risk is also high for pregnant women and children with chronic illnesses.?
According to Dr. Congeni, medical experts are expecting children and schools to play the leading role in how H1N1 flu is spread through communities this fall.
?As we all know, children don?t adhere to the best cough-and-sneeze etiquette,? said Dr. Congeni. ?And we certainly know how difficult it is to keep 3-year-olds from touching one another.?
Here are the ?ABCs? of H1N1 swine flu:
A ? Always wash your hand. Frequent hand washing and use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer are the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to stay healthy. Young children should be taught proper hand-washing techniques. They should use warm water and wash for as long as it takes them to sing the ?ABC song,? paying close attention to the areas around the nails where germs can hide. Alcohol-based sanitizers are just as effective as soap and water and should be readily available in the classroom, your child?s backpack, and the family car for situations where you may not have access to soap and water.
B ? Be smart about germs. Cough and sneeze into a tissue (rather than your hands), avoid people who appear to be sick and get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the vaccine for H1N1 flu when it?s available.
C ? Call the doctor if you suspect you or your child has the flu. Symptoms include fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, chills, and fatigue.
?The anti-viral medicines are effective in treating H1N1 flu if they are started within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms,? said Dr. Congeni. ?These medicines keep the flu viruses from reproducing in your body and can prevent serious complications. Treatment, generally, is indicated for patients at highest risk of complications and those who are hospitalized.?
For more information about H1N1 flu, visit www.akronchildrens.org/flu.
Experienced pediatric nurses are also available at the Ask Children?s call center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 330-543-2000 or 800-358-5437 (toll free in Ohio)
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About Akron Children?s Hospital
As the largest pediatric health care provider in northeast Ohio, the Akron Children?s Hospital system cares for more than 500,000 children and adults each year. With 78 locations throughout the region including a 253-bed campus in downtown Akron as well as a 32-bed campus in Boardman, Akron Children?s offers a full range of services, from well-child visits at our pediatrics offices to trauma and intensive care to treatment of rare and serious childhood disorders. Akron Children?s Hospital has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission and Magnet Recognition Status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. To learn more, visit www.akronchildrens.org.
AKRON, Ohio (Sept. 8, 2009) ? Children are especially vulnerable to H1N1 (swine) flu. So as the kids settle back into their classrooms, parents should take a few minutes to educate them in the ?ABCs? of H1N1 flu.
?Children are one of the highest risk groups for complications from H1N1 flu because their immune systems do not have experience with it,? said Blaise Congeni, MD, director of Infectious Disease at Akron Children?s Hospital. ?Children under the age of 5, and especially those under 6 months of age, are especially vulnerable to this novel flu strain. The risk is also high for pregnant women and children with chronic illnesses.?
According to Dr. Congeni, medical experts are expecting children and schools to play the leading role in how H1N1 flu is spread through communities this fall.
?As we all know, children don?t adhere to the best cough-and-sneeze etiquette,? said Dr. Congeni. ?And we certainly know how difficult it is to keep 3-year-olds from touching one another.?
Here are the ?ABCs? of H1N1 swine flu:
A ? Always wash your hand. Frequent hand washing and use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer are the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to stay healthy. Young children should be taught proper hand-washing techniques. They should use warm water and wash for as long as it takes them to sing the ?ABC song,? paying close attention to the areas around the nails where germs can hide. Alcohol-based sanitizers are just as effective as soap and water and should be readily available in the classroom, your child?s backpack, and the family car for situations where you may not have access to soap and water.
B ? Be smart about germs. Cough and sneeze into a tissue (rather than your hands), avoid people who appear to be sick and get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the vaccine for H1N1 flu when it?s available.
C ? Call the doctor if you suspect you or your child has the flu. Symptoms include fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, chills, and fatigue.
?The anti-viral medicines are effective in treating H1N1 flu if they are started within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms,? said Dr. Congeni. ?These medicines keep the flu viruses from reproducing in your body and can prevent serious complications. Treatment, generally, is indicated for patients at highest risk of complications and those who are hospitalized.?
For more information about H1N1 flu, visit www.akronchildrens.org/flu.
Experienced pediatric nurses are also available at the Ask Children?s call center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 330-543-2000 or 800-358-5437 (toll free in Ohio)
http://www.ohio.com/community/readernews/community/58055137.html
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Publish story by Holly
POSTED: 09:43 a.m. EDT, Sep 09, 2009
AKRON, Ohio (Sept. 8, 2009) ? Children are especially vulnerable to H1N1 (swine) flu. So as the kids settle back into their classrooms, parents should take a few minutes to educate them in the ?ABCs? of H1N1 flu.
?Children are one of the highest risk groups for complications from H1N1 flu because their immune systems do not have experience with it,? said Blaise Congeni, MD, director of Infectious Disease at Akron Children?s Hospital. ?Children under the age of 5, and especially those under 6 months of age, are especially vulnerable to this novel flu strain. The risk is also high for pregnant women and children with chronic illnesses.?
According to Dr. Congeni, medical experts are expecting children and schools to play the leading role in how H1N1 flu is spread through communities this fall.
?As we all know, children don?t adhere to the best cough-and-sneeze etiquette,? said Dr. Congeni. ?And we certainly know how difficult it is to keep 3-year-olds from touching one another.?
Here are the ?ABCs? of H1N1 swine flu:
A ? Always wash your hand. Frequent hand washing and use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer are the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to stay healthy. Young children should be taught proper hand-washing techniques. They should use warm water and wash for as long as it takes them to sing the ?ABC song,? paying close attention to the areas around the nails where germs can hide. Alcohol-based sanitizers are just as effective as soap and water and should be readily available in the classroom, your child?s backpack, and the family car for situations where you may not have access to soap and water.
B ? Be smart about germs. Cough and sneeze into a tissue (rather than your hands), avoid people who appear to be sick and get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the vaccine for H1N1 flu when it?s available.
C ? Call the doctor if you suspect you or your child has the flu. Symptoms include fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, chills, and fatigue.
?The anti-viral medicines are effective in treating H1N1 flu if they are started within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms,? said Dr. Congeni. ?These medicines keep the flu viruses from reproducing in your body and can prevent serious complications. Treatment, generally, is indicated for patients at highest risk of complications and those who are hospitalized.?
For more information about H1N1 flu, visit www.akronchildrens.org/flu.
Experienced pediatric nurses are also available at the Ask Children?s call center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 330-543-2000 or 800-358-5437 (toll free in Ohio)
-30-
About Akron Children?s Hospital
As the largest pediatric health care provider in northeast Ohio, the Akron Children?s Hospital system cares for more than 500,000 children and adults each year. With 78 locations throughout the region including a 253-bed campus in downtown Akron as well as a 32-bed campus in Boardman, Akron Children?s offers a full range of services, from well-child visits at our pediatrics offices to trauma and intensive care to treatment of rare and serious childhood disorders. Akron Children?s Hospital has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission and Magnet Recognition Status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. To learn more, visit www.akronchildrens.org.
AKRON, Ohio (Sept. 8, 2009) ? Children are especially vulnerable to H1N1 (swine) flu. So as the kids settle back into their classrooms, parents should take a few minutes to educate them in the ?ABCs? of H1N1 flu.
?Children are one of the highest risk groups for complications from H1N1 flu because their immune systems do not have experience with it,? said Blaise Congeni, MD, director of Infectious Disease at Akron Children?s Hospital. ?Children under the age of 5, and especially those under 6 months of age, are especially vulnerable to this novel flu strain. The risk is also high for pregnant women and children with chronic illnesses.?
According to Dr. Congeni, medical experts are expecting children and schools to play the leading role in how H1N1 flu is spread through communities this fall.
?As we all know, children don?t adhere to the best cough-and-sneeze etiquette,? said Dr. Congeni. ?And we certainly know how difficult it is to keep 3-year-olds from touching one another.?
Here are the ?ABCs? of H1N1 swine flu:
A ? Always wash your hand. Frequent hand washing and use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer are the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to stay healthy. Young children should be taught proper hand-washing techniques. They should use warm water and wash for as long as it takes them to sing the ?ABC song,? paying close attention to the areas around the nails where germs can hide. Alcohol-based sanitizers are just as effective as soap and water and should be readily available in the classroom, your child?s backpack, and the family car for situations where you may not have access to soap and water.
B ? Be smart about germs. Cough and sneeze into a tissue (rather than your hands), avoid people who appear to be sick and get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the vaccine for H1N1 flu when it?s available.
C ? Call the doctor if you suspect you or your child has the flu. Symptoms include fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, chills, and fatigue.
?The anti-viral medicines are effective in treating H1N1 flu if they are started within the first 48 hours of the onset of symptoms,? said Dr. Congeni. ?These medicines keep the flu viruses from reproducing in your body and can prevent serious complications. Treatment, generally, is indicated for patients at highest risk of complications and those who are hospitalized.?
For more information about H1N1 flu, visit www.akronchildrens.org/flu.
Experienced pediatric nurses are also available at the Ask Children?s call center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 330-543-2000 or 800-358-5437 (toll free in Ohio)
http://www.ohio.com/community/readernews/community/58055137.html
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